Rail joint and support



R. G. WASHINGTON.

RAIL JOINT ANB SUPPORT.

-APP1L|CATION FILED 0501,1919.

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RAIL JOINT AND SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-1.1919.

1,353,868. Patentedfiapt. 28,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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3 n Lmwtoz PATENT OFFICE.

RUFFU'S G. WASHINGTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL JOINT AND SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Application filed December 1, 1919. Serial No. 341,825.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Rurrus G. WASHING- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use fullrnproveinents in Rail Joints and Supports; andl do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in railways and particularly to rail joints and rail supports.

} One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this character which is strong and durable, and which will effectively hold the rails against sagging or spreading.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved device of this character wherein the rails can be easily and quickly removed and replaced without disturbing the adjacent rails.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of rails joined and supported by the inven ion.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same viewed from the opposite side of the joint.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3, showing the means for holding the rails together and supporting the same.

5 is detail perspective view of one of the fishplates.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the rail ends.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the top p ate of the rail sumport showing the positions of the stationarv and removable lugs.

8 is a perspective view of the angle plate 33.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 represents a metal box which is adapted to be sunk in the ground beneath arail or the meeting ends of the rails 11 and 12. The top of this box coni prises a flat plate 13, the marginal edges of which project slightly beyond the sides and ends of the box. Formed on the upper face of the plate 13, adjacent one of its longer edges, are the hook lugs 14, while along the opposite longer edge there are formed the openings 15. Into these openings are removably disposed the bolts 16 which have heads 17 similar to the lugs 14, and extend above the surface of the plate, as clearly seen in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Nuts 18 are engaged on the bolt-s, and the plate 13, and a key 19 passed through openings in the bolts, and the nuts. One end of the key is bent angularly, as at 20, while the other end has a cross key 21 disposed therethrough.

Disposed on the plate 13 are the rail ends 11 and 12. In one side of the base of each rail end there are formed the notches 22 for the reception of the stems of the hook lugs 14, while the opposite side of the base of each rail end has notches 23 for the recep tion of the stems of the hook heads 17 of the bolts 16. It will be noted that the central hook lug 14' is larger than the remaining hook lugs.

"Against one side of the meeting ends of the rails there is disposed an angle plate 24 in which are formed the openings 25 for registration with openings 26 in the webs of the rails for the reception of the pins 27. The opposite ends of these pins are provided with cross keys 28 to prevent displacement. One end of each cross key is bent angularly, as at 29, while the other end has a cross key 30 therethrough.

At opposite sides of the notches 22 are formed the integral upstanding lugs 31 between which the stems of the hook lugs 14 en age.

The outer edge of the horizontal portion of the angle plate 24 is formed with a longitudinal series of upstanding lugs 32 which are disposed inwardly of the notches 23 and receive therebetween the horizontal portions of the bolt heads 17. It will be noted that only two of the bolt'heads engage in the spaces between the lugs 32, and rest on the upper face of the horizontal portion of the angle plate. It will be noted that the lug 31 does not extend as far inwardly on the rail base. as the others, and that the next lug 31" is of the same length as the others, but slightly narrower. This peculiar construction of the lugs 31' and 31" permits a space into which the outer part of the horizontal portion of the angle plate 24 fits.

Against the other side of the rails is an angle plate 33, the vertical portion of which receives therethrough the adjacent ends of the before-mentioned pins 27. The horizontal portion of thisangle plate is tapered toward its outer side, and then reduced in width to form the comparatively narrow tongue 34 which is bifurcated in its outer end, as at 35, andhas the upstanding lugs 86 on opposite sides thereof. This bifurcation '7 receives the vertical stem portion of the central large hook lug 14: while the horizontal portion of said lug engages between the lugs '36.

Formed transversely through the metal box 10 are the openings 37 through which is disposed a tie rod or bolt 88, the end having a ball formed thereon, as shown at 39', for engagement against one side of the box, and

a nut 40 threaded thereon for engagement against the other side of the box. It will be understood thatthere are two of these boxes, one under the joint at one side of the railwa'y,and the other beneath the center of the other rail. The lower corners of each box are formed with enlargements ll which prehaving lugs for engagement in said notches 7 V and thelugs and removable elements.

and disposed between the first-named lugs, said support having removable elements for engagement in certain of the rail base notches, andangle plates connecting the rail ends and interlocking with the rail bases 2. In a rail jointand support, a base ing an upper fiat table portion formed on one edge with upstanding hook lugs, removable bolts disposed through the other edge of the table portion and'having hook heads, the opposite edges of the base flanges of the rail ends being notched and having lugs at opposite sides thereof, the hook lugs and hook heads being disposed within said notches, an angle plate disposed at one side of the joint and having lugs alternating with the lugs of the rail bases and receiving therebetween the saidhook lugs and hook heads, a second angle plate disposed against'the other side of the joint and having a bifurcated extension formed with vertical lugs for the reception of one of the hook lugs therein and therebetween, and means for securing the angle plates to the rails.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

RUFFUSV G. WASHINGTON.

V Witnesses:

GARNETTE GINsBURe,

BENJ. GINSBURG.

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